The first classic album by
the Horace Silver Quintet
, this set is highlighted by "Senor Blues" and "Cool Eyes." The early
Silver
quintet of 1956 was essentially
the Jazz Messengers
of the year before, with trumpeter
Donald Byrd
, tenor saxophonist
Hank Mobley
, and bassist
Doug Watkins
(while drummer
Louis Hayes
was in
Blakey
's place), but already the band was starting to develop a sound of its own. "Senor Blues" officially put
Horace Silver
on the map, and the album is a hard bop and gospel-tinged jazz gem. [Some reissues add bonus tracks, including two additional versions of "Senor Blues," including a later vocal rendition by
Bill Henderson
.] ~ Scott Yanow